TNA’s – Phenomenal: The Best Of AJ Styles

TNA – Phenomenal: The Best of AJ Styles

Review by Jacob Ziegler

Introduction

This is the first wrestler-centered Best of produced by TNA, and it’s for their poster boy, AJ Styles. I’ve reviewed a few of these matches already, so I’ll be cutting and pasting in a few places.

Mike Tenay and Don West talk about the awesomeness of the dozen matches on this DVD.

MATCH #1: Double Elimination Match for the TNA X-Division Championship – AJ Styles vs. Psicosis vs. Low Ki vs. Jerry Lynn, 6.26.02

We start with Styles and Psicosis. This match will have just two guys in the ring at a time, and when you get pinned someone else comes in. When you get pinned twice, you’re gone. AJ pins Psicosis at 1:59 and Low Ki jumps in. Don West drops the “greatest match I’ve ever seen” bomb about 3 minutes in. Ki and Styles had a couple whip-ass matches in Ring of Honor, and they’re looking similarly awesome here. Styles pins Ki at 4:22. Lynn jumps in and pins AJ with the cradle piledriver at 4:42. Psicosis comes in with a big missile dropkick. Steamboat is at ringside, and he will referee the match when it gets down to the final two men. Lynn hits Psicosis with the cradle piledriver and pins him at 7:42 to eliminate Psicosis for good. Jerry pops up on the picture-in-picture to talk about his first two matches in TNA. Low Ki jumps in and starts kicking a lot. West chimes in with another “this is the greatest show on Earth.” Lynn hits his contrived legdrop on the outside of the ring. Ki reverses the cradle piledriver into an armbar in a cool spot. Lynn counters with a powerbomb for a VERY near fall. Lynn hits the cradle piledriver out of nowhere at 12:01 to eliminate Low Ki for good. Now we’re down to Jerry Lynn (zero defeats) versus AJ Styles (one defeat). So Styles will have to pin Lynn twice in a row to win the match. Shouldn’t Steamboat be the referee now since AJ could be eliminated at any time? AJ hits the Styles Clash out of nowhere to pin Lynn at 16:03 to even things up. Now Steamboat comes in. AJ comes in the picture-in-picture to talk about how much he likes the X-Division. After almost ten minutes of excellent back and forth, AJ hits the Spiral Tap to get the victory at 25:54. It was pretty spotty and they blew some stuff, but it was as close to “Total Nonstop Action” as it could be, and it was a really good introduction to the X-Division. Don West calls it the greatest match ever; I guess if you call it “the greatest match in TNA history (after two shows)” that would be correct.
RATING: ****1/4

AJ Styles himself is on to talk about winning that first X Title match. This is much better than it being on the picture-in-picture, like the earlier DVD’s.

MATCH #2: TNA X-Division Title Match – AJ Styles vs. Low Ki vs. Jerry Lynn, 8.07.02

Lynn and Ki team up on AJ for a minute, then take the fight to each other. They’re doing spots that involve all three guys, rather than knocking one guy to the outside and letting just two guys go at it. This is hard to keep up with play-by-play wise, so I’m kind of just watching it for fun, and it is tremendous fun, by the way. They get to a point where they are al trying to hit each other’s finishers, and Jerry Lynn is all “to hell with this” and goes for his own finisher, but AJ reverses it and hits one on Lynn. Low Ki accidentally bumps the referee, and then gets dumped over the top rope by Styles and Lynn. AJ nails Lynn with a chair and goes up to the top rope. Ki sneaks in to cover Lynn, which the referee counts, and AJ comes off the top rope and nails Low Ki, breaking up the pin, but the referee counts three anyway to give Ki the win and the title at 16:14. Okay that finished sucked very badly, but the match was all kinds of cool and is a great precursor to the ladder match that came after it.
Rating: ***3/4

AJ talks about himself, Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Amazing Red being the core of the X-Division, and doing matches that no one else had ever seen.

MATCH #3: Ladder Match for the TNA X-Division Title – Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles vs. Low Ki, 8.28.02

The ladder comes into play early on, and all three men are unleashing the offense. These three had a regular three-way match two weeks prior to this, in which Ki pinned Lynn to win Styles’ title. They’re doing a lot of cool spots and cool moves without using the ladder very much, and I think that’s pretty cool. Ki goes for the Tidal Crush on Lynn, who blocks it and goes for a powerbomb, but Ki reverses that into a hurricanrana onto a ladder. That is just a small example of what they’re doing, I found it too difficult to do play-by-play for this, so I’m just enjoying it. AJ is on picture-in-picture to talk about how much he liked the three-way matches. Ki then kicks AJ directly in the head. Ouch. All three men are on top of the ladders now, in a pretty cool visual. Styles crashes to the outside, leaving Ki and Lynn alone up there. Lynn gives him the Cradle Piledriver from almost the top of the ladder. Lynn then climbs the ladder to grab the belt and win the title at 19:57. That was a pretty killer match, with all three guys busting ass and making each other look good.
Rating: ****

AJ talks about how he got into the business. He didn’t watch much wrestling growing up. He picked it up around the time WCW got really hot. Then he got trained, and became a wrestler.

MATCH #4: No Disqualification Match for the TNA X-Division Title – AJ Styles vs. Syxx-Pac, 10.23.02

Syxx-Pac says the fans paid too much for a disqualification; hence we have the no-DQ stipulation added. AJ has Mortimer Plumbtree in his corner, and he joins the commentary team. Pac is on offense to start, dominating the younger Styles. Pac puts on a surfboard. AJ takes control outside the ring and goes on offense. He hits the Spiral Tap, and we get clipped for some reason as Pac kicks out at two. Pac gets the Bronco Buster on AJ. Is it 1999 again? The Factor (X-Factor) seems to end things for Syxx-Pac, but Plumbtree grabs the referee to break it up. AJ accidentally nails Plumbtree off the apron, then falls victim to a Northern Lights Suplex for two. Pac jumps off the ropes but gets caught in a German Suplex for two. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, which Pac fights off to the ropes, but Brian Lawler interferes, nailing Pac in the head, allowing AJ to get the Clash for the pin and the title at 8:55. That picked up pretty good by the end there. Syxx-Pac raises AJ’s hand.
Rating: ***

AJ is back to talk about the punishment wrestlers go through. He says coping with daily pain is just a part of being a wrestler.

MATCH #5: TNA X-Division Title Match – Amazing Red vs. AJ Styles, 10.30.02

This is AJ’s first title defense since winning the belt the previous week. Red is Don West’s admitted favorite. The action in this one is hard to call, sine it’s so fast and crazy. Red is going all-out, hitting a sweet dive to the floor on AJ. These two made a great tag team in Ring of Honor, and were the company’s second-ever Tag Team Champions. Brainbuster by AJ looks really sick. He goes for another one but Red reverses to the Code Red for two. Flipping inverted DDT gets two for Styles. Nasty powerbomb gets two. Red is pretty tough for absorbing all of this. Red fights back and gets the Red Star Press for two. Red reverses a Styles Clash attempt into a snap hurricanrana. Don West calls it one of the best matches he’s ever seen in his life. AJ hits a hurricane DDT. AJ is going for the Clash off the top rope, which Red reverses to a hurricanrana, which AJ rolls through to a sunset flip to get the pin at 12:33. That was pretty sweet, with the finish making both guys look good and perhaps setting up a rematch.
Rating: ***3/4

AJ talks about his non-existent private life. He says the best picture of his wife is his cell phone, because that’s where he spends the most time with her. She’s a school teacher, he loves her very much, and they get through the hard times. He loves playing video games to unwind.

MATCH #6: Low Ki & Primetime Elix Skipper vs. AJ Styles & D-Lo Brown, 5.07.03

The winners of this match advance to an Anarchy Asylum battle royal later in the evening. Both Styles & D-Lo want to get a shot at Jeff Jarrett’s World Title. D-Lo and Ki start off, and D-Lo pretty much gets the best of that. He tags in AJ, who hits a beautiful missile dropkick. Ki takes over with martial arts though. AJ & D-Lo regain control with some creative double-teaming. This was only their second match as a team. The Triple X tandem take over and dominate AJ Styles. Hot tag to D-Lo, and it’s house-a-fire time. Double team Sky High/Neckbreaker on Low Ki gets the pin for the good guys at 9:02. Good, solid tag team match.
Rating: ***1/4

DISC TWO

Mike and Don are back, to talk about AJ Styles stepping up to the NWA World Championship level. They introduce the match, which is a three-way match.

MATCH #7: NWA World Heavyweight Title Match – Raven vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett, 6.11.03

Tenay mentions the “champion’s advantage,” but since titles can change hands via countout or disqualification in TNA, I have no idea what he’s talking about. They do some typical three-way stuff to start out, and eventually they go outside the ring. AJ hits a wicked no-hands tope to the outside onto both guys. The steel steps come into play as both AJ and Raven jump off them to deliver attacks. Back in the ring they do some cool stuff and Raven reverses a Jarrett enziguiri into an STF, which is pretty neat looking. AJ introduces a chair into the match, and I guess there are no DQ’s in this one. Tenay confirms my suspicions there. The picture-in-picture returns, this time with AJ Styles, who has the title at this point. Man, if I didn’t know the result of this match I would be pissed. Raven hits the Raven Effect on Jarrett, but SHANE DOUGLAS pulls Raven off. This was Douglas’s first appearance in TNA. Back in the ring AJ hits an awesome frog splash for two, D-Lo Brown style. There’s AJ doing the picture-in-picture again. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, but Jarrett reverses, taking the referee out and hitting his second Alabama Slam of the evening. AJ goes for a beautiful springboard 450 Splash, but Jarrett gets his knees up. Vince Russo is out, and looks to hit AJ with the guitar but hits Jarrett instead. Crowd pops huge for that. One Styles Clash later, and AJ wins his first World Championship at 13:59. Russo of course tries to steal the heat by kissing the title and celebrating with AJ. Minus a bit for the finish, but that was still a really good three-way.
Rating: ***3/4

AJ talks about his road to the NWA Title, and what it feels like to be NWA Champion. He mentions the big pop that he got for winning the title.

MATCH #8: Ladder Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title – D-Lo Brown vs. AJ Styles, 7.23.03

This is for the NWA Title, naturally. This is their third fall of the night, so I imagine fatigue might factor into this match-up. I don’t remember when Trinity was accompanying AJ to the ring, but there she is. Russo is barred from ringside. Apparently D-Lo is undefeated in ladder matches in his career. Russo is peeking through the bars from backstage. Seriously, what is this guy’s infatuation with being on camera? D-Lo and AJ are having a decent little match here. AJ comes on picture-in-picture to talk about how great he and D-Lo’s tag matches were. AJ is just brutalizing D-Lo with the ladder and a steel chair. The crowd is pretty quiet for some reason. D-Lo turns the tables by putting AJ on a table outside the ring and hitting a huge ‘Lo Down from the top of the ladder through the table. That was neat. Don West of course declares AJ legally dead. D-Lo has some trouble climbing the ladder, allowing Sonny Siaki to interfere and push D-Lo off the ladder. Both men recover and climb the ladder and come down with the belt at the same time at 10:59. Russo runs out right away to find out what referee Rudy Charles has decided. Rudy decides that since no decisive decision was reached, AJ Styles will remain the World Champion. The finish sucked, but the match wasn’t bad. It wasn’t special either though.
Rating: ***

AJ loves wrestling fans. Without them he wouldn’t be where he is today.

MATCH #9: NWA World Heavyweight Title Match – Low Ki vs. AJ Styles, 8.13.03

Vince Russo is out with the Champion, of course. Mike Tenay puts over AJ as champion and goes over the list of his title defenses (one against Kazarian and three against D-Lo Brown). Intense lockup to start. Low Ki only needs to win this match to become the second ever Triple Crown holder in TNA, after Mr. Styles of course. Russo gets on commentary to put himself over. Both men are tentative at first, until AJ takes control. Ki comes back with his version of the 619. A year prior to this, these two were fighting for the X-Division Title. AJ counters the three kick combo with a legsweep, but Ki comes back with a rolling kick. AJ hits a sick reverse DDT on the outside of the ring. Ki gets a crucifix for two, but AJ comes back with a spinning kick. AJ goes for his suplex neckbreaker, but Ki counters to the Dragon Clutch, but AJ snaps Ki’s neck off the top rope with a hurricanrana. That was pretty neat. Referee takes a bump, but is back up seconds later. Ki is making the comeback now. Butterfly pinning suplex gets two. Ki goes for the Ki Krusher, but AJ reverses it to a DDT. They do a series of near-falls, and the crowd is really getting into this. Big kick by Low Ki and both men are down. Low Ki finally attacks Russo, and sets him out on the announce table to jump off the top rope on him, but Rudy Charles stops him. In all the confusion, AJ hits Ki with the baseball bat to get the pin at 14:54. That match had lots of Russo, but the in-ring stuff was really good. Russo sucks.
Rating: ***1/2

AJ says his childhood idols were Spud Webb, Barry Sanders, and any other short guys.

MATCH #10: Abyss vs. AJ Styles, 11.19.03

Abyss comes to the ring with Don Callis. He also has a slight size advantage. AJ hits a big clothesline to knock Abyss outside the ring, and follows it with a sick dive. I think this is their first match against each other. They do an awesome reversal spot on the outside, with Abyss taking the advantage. AJ hits an awesome hurricanrana, still on the floor. Back in the ring AJ hits his awesome dropkick. It’s not long before the size of Abyss gives him control. He’s kinda big ya know. AJ tries to make a comeback, but Abyss tosses him back outside the ring. He’s been busted open. AJ has his rematch with Jeff Jarrett in two weeks, but he won’t even make it if Abyss has his way. He reverses a big powerbomb with a face plant, and follows it up with a headscissors and an enziguiri. He goes up to the top for a missile dropkick, but Abyss pulls Andrew Thomas in harm’s way. AJ hits a springboard 450 splash, but there is no referee. Callis throws a chair into the ring, and Abyss kills AJ with it. He actually kicks out though! Then he comes back with a sunset flip powerbomb on a chair, and Rudy Charles runs out but can only get a two count. Abyss comes back and catapults AJ’s face into a chair. Big backbreaker follows, but it’s not enough. A frustrated Abyss gives Charles the Black Hole Slam. AJ gets the chair, but one big shot isn’t enough to hurt the big man. Abyss goes for a chokeslam, but AJ gets a rollup to win the match at 13:53. That was all kinds of cool.
Rating: ***3/4

AJ talks about how difficult it is to stay in shape, eating the right food, finding a good gym. He says he spends most of his money on food.

MATCH #11: Falls Count Anywhere Match – Abyss vs. AJ Styles, 3.03.04

AJ and Abyss actually held the tag team titles for the month prior to this, but they never made any defenses because they were too busy fighting each other. The belts were declared vacant on this show. Abyss comes out to start the match in the aisle way. Big headscissors by AJ on the floor. Abyss tosses AJ from the ramp to the floor. They fight towards the back of the Asylum, with Abyss maintaining control through sheer size. AJ dives off a balcony onto Abyss. That’s crazy. AJ gabs a chair, but Abyss knocks it into his face and takes control. Some fan throws a soda at AJ. Don West recognizes him as Johnny Fairplay, who I never saw on any reality TV show. I just know he’s from Survivor because TNA told me so. They’re back in the ring now and AJ goes for a slam but can’t lift the big man. Abyss lays a chair out on AJ and hits a big splash from the second rope. Unassisted enziguiri by AJ, who then gets tossed outside the ring along with referee Mike Posey. Abyss hits a huge Black Hole Slam, but there is no referee. Rudy Charles runs down and only gets two. AJ actually pulls off a German Suplex, but Abyss kicks out. Abyss takes out Rudy Charles now as well. AJ goes for the Styles Clash and hits a modified version of it, but once again no referee. Referee Bruce Gray is out now, and I think he referees for Ring of Honor now. Small clip job, but we’re back in time to see Gray take a creative bump. The two men continue beating on each other, until Don Harris and the rest of Black Shirt Security come out, and the match is thrown out at 14:42. Help from the back comes out to try and keep both men apart, but that proves to be a difficult task. Not as good as the last match, but close.
Rating: ***1/2

AJ talks about the future of the business, and strongly puts over the X-Division. He also mentions the six-sided ring that TNA started to employ in the summer of 2004. He promises that the future will be phenomenal.

MATCH #12: Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title – Jeff Jarrett vs. AJ Styles, 4.21.04

This was supposed to be Chris Harris’s title shot, but he was injured and thus AJ takes his place. At the time though, the opponent was a mystery, though heavily rumored to be Raven. Russo of course has to come out for promo time. Raven is shown warming up in the back. Russo promises that Harris will get his title shot when he returns from the hospital. He goes through the list of contenders, noting that James Storm isn’t ready. He denied Abyss’s request because he doesn’t want to get pushed around. Ron Killings doesn’t get the shot for the same reason. He says Raven deserves this shot, and could beat Jarrett. He details their history in WWF and WCW. He keeps going, talking about doing the right thing. He introduces Jarrett’s opponent – AJ Styles! Raven is unhappy to say the last. Borash can’t even make the introductions, as Jarrett and AJ go after each other right away. Their tights look too similar; one of them should have changed. Good back and forth action to start. Jarrett takes over after some AJ dominance, and starts throwing AJ into the cage over and over. Jarrett hits three back suplexes in a row, and moves out of the way when AJ goes for a missile dropkick. Jarrett goes to work on the legs, and AJ gets a small package for two. Jarrett locks on the Scorpion Death Lock. AJ gets the ropes, and reverses it to a Deathlock of his own. Jarrett throws powder in AJ’s eyes, and gets a backslide for two. AJ fights back valiantly. The referee tries to check AJ’s eyes, so Jarrett pulls a chain out. AJ ducks and rolls Jarrett up for two. They get back up and Jarrett connects this time, and puts the weapon back in his tights. They made a big deal out of how this is a no-DQ match, so he shouldn’t care about hiding it. He goes for The Stroke but AJ reverses. Jarrett then goes for the Styles Clash, which AJ reverses to a hurricanrana, which Jarrett rolls through to a sunset flip, and AJ rolls through that to hit the Styles Clash, but Jarrett kicks out. AJ goes to the top of the cage, but Jarrett throws the referee into the cage and AJ almost falls off entirely. Jarrett knocks him off the rest of the way. Jarrett grabs his guitar and both men are back in the ring. Russo once again tries to steal the heat. Jarrett goes to hit AJ, but he kicks it to pieces and gets a crucifix to win the title for the second time at 13:36. The crowd went nuts for that. That was a pretty good match, but Russo’s involvement hurt it a little bit. I like the Raven storyline though. AJ shakes Russo’s hand, and then gives him a big hug. LAME.
Rating: ***1/4

Mike and Don are back one last time to put over the awesomeness of AJ Styles. Mike’s favorite AJ match is the triple ladder match with Low Ki and Jerry Lynn. Don says his favorite is the first ever X-Division Title match, saying that it was the first time he saw AJ. Well that’s not true because Mike called the first show, and AJ was on that show too. They plug the other DVDs and bid us farewell.

BONUS

The bonus feature is an AJ Styles’ music video with a lot of his highlights from TNA.

The 411: Forgive the pun, but this really is a phenomenal two-disc set, with all kinds of good matches and a good representation of AJ's TNA career. No matches dip below ***, which for a best of set is something that should be the norm. The production value on this is also very high, rivaling if not bettering the WWE production value. I give my highest recommendation for Phenomenal: The Best of AJ Styles.

Final Score:  9.5   [  Amazing ]